Here’s how you spot the hoops junkies (well, besides the kind of pasty skin tones): They’re the ones coming to this site, scanning past the latest LeBron James update to see what is happening in Summer League play.

Summer League is about rookies and sleepers. We get to see the top draft picks in their first NBA action, how they handle a faster pace and more athletic defenders. We get to see what second rounders might stand out (Chase Budinger looked good at Summer League last year, and that translated to the season). It’s not ball at the NBA level (or even D-League, really) but it’s a step up from college.

We also get to see guys on the fringe of the NBA try to make a statement that they belong, guys who have played in Europe trying to show how their games have matured and are NBA ready now. Thing is, the real business of the Summer League is European scouts looking at American talent they want to sign — that is where the majority of the Summer League players end up.

You get to see all this in a very intimate setting. The beauty of Summer League is that the fans (and media) are very close to the action. It’s like watching NBA talent in a high school gym. NBA coaches and general managers are sitting in the stands. You can’t buy a Coke without bumping into a scout. And the whole thing is casual.

A few things to watch for in Orlando:

* Evan Turner and Derrick Favors squaring off Monday night. Two of the top three picks are in action. (John Wall debuts Sunday night in Vegas.)

* Butler’s Gordan Hawyward — is he really ready for this level of play?

* Can Darius Miles convince anyone that his knees are good for another run in the NBA?

* Can Rod Benson finally get a fair shake? The guy has NBA game. But he’s a blogger, and Internet sensation. Like any good blogger, he’s candid. It hasn’t helped. NBA front offices react like the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer — they are frightened by your new technology. Will they see past it to the fact Benson can flat out ball?

* Mustafa Shakur got a look from the Oklahoma City Thunder and he looked good — an athletic, long player who can explode to the rim. Isn’t Oklahoma City’s roster filled with guys like that? He gets the chance to prove he belongs.

You can watch most of the games on NBATV.com. Also, for $14.05 you can stream all the games on your computer through NBA.com.

(Programming note: The entire ProBasketballTalk team will be in Las Vegas for Summer League. Why? Because we’re hoops junkies. Flat out junkies. We’ll bring you the highlights from Orlando, as well.)